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Nepal

Extension: The Splendor of Nepal

Program No. 22521RJ
Continue your learning adventure with an extension into Nepal. Explore grand temples, discover ancient palaces, and learn about Hinduism and Buddhism from local experts.
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  • The Splendor of Nepal
  • The Splendor of Nepal
  • The Splendor of Nepal
  • The Splendor of Nepal
Program ExtensionSmall Group
Length
8 days
Rating (5)
Activity Level
Starts at
1,799
Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
8 days
7 nights
What's Included
15 meals ( 6B, 4L, 5D )
2 expert-led lectures
9 expert-led field trips
1 flight during the program
1 hands-on experience
An experienced Group Leader
6 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
This program is an extension of program 22519 (Highlights of India: Discover Delhi, Agra, Jaipur & Varanasi). Program 22519 concludes at Delhi airport. Participants on the 22521 (Nepal Extension) program will then be transferred to a hotel in Delhi for the night.
Afternoon:
Our flight from Varanasi arrives in Delhi around 5pm. We transfer to our nearby hotel and check-in.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
The flight from Delhi to Kathmandu is approximately 2 hours. Once in Kathmandu, the drive to Nagarkot is approximately 1.5 hours. The walk around Nagarkot is less than ½ mile on paved roads with occasional uphill and downhill sections.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After breakfast we transfer back to Delhi airport to check in for our late-morning flight to Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM), Kathmandu, Nepal.
Lunch:
At own arrangements, en route.
Afternoon:
After landing in Kathmandu, proceed through customs, claim your luggage and exit into the main arrivals area. Once in the main arrivals area, look for your Group Leader who will be holding a Road Scholar sign. Once everyone is gathered, we will board our motorcoach and set off for Nagarkot, a scenic hilltop village located 19 miles east of Kathmandu, situated at an elevation of 7,102 feet, Nagarkot offers a panoramic view of the Kathmandu Valley and is renowned for its stunning vistas of Nepal’s major Himalayan peaks (weather permitting). We have some time to rest at our hotel before orientation and dinner. Our Group Leader will then conduct a program orientation to go through the itinerary, review safety guidelines and answer any questions. During this program extension, our field trips will be led by our Group Leader unless specified otherwise. Please be aware that program activities and schedules could change due to local circumstances such as weather, traffic conditions, etc. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
Welcome Dinner with a complimentary "Welcome to Nepal" drink.
Evening:
Enjoy the sunset view over the Himalayas from our hilltop resort. Settle in and get a good night’s rest for our day ahead.
Activity Note
Morning hike is approximately 1.5-2 hours over mainly level dirt paths with some uneven terrain and a few small ascents and declines. Comfortable walking shoes required. If normally used when hiking, a walking stick would be helpful. Please note that the school visit availability is subject to change based on school holiday timing and exam schedules.
Breakfast:
For those interested, waking up early rewards us with an incredible view of sunrise over the Himalayas. Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning:
After breakfast, we take a short hike in the hills around Nagarkot to traditional Brahmin and Tamang villages. We enjoy stunning views of the Kathmandu Valley from the resort - weather permitting. Next, we visit a local school and learn a little bit about the Nepalese educational system (subject to school holiday and exam schedules.)
Lunch:
At the hotel.
Afternoon:
After lunch, our Group Leader delivers a presentation on Nepalese culture. After the presentation, we will walk around Nagarkot and explore the suspension bridge. For those that wish to rest and relax at the hotel and enjoy the views are welcome to do so.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Walking approximately 2 miles over paved surfaces, a few uneven surfaces and some stairs.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We check out of our hotel and transfer to Kathmandu, arriving mid-morning. Once in Kathmandu we explore Pashupatinath, one of the most sacred Hindu temples in the world. During the annual Shivaratri pilgrimage, thousands of devotees of Lord Shiva come from Hindu communities around the world to pay homage here.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we explore Boudhanath, the largest Buddhist stupa in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Situated just beyond the Pashupatinath temple, it houses 108 Buddha images and 147 prayer wheel insets. The settlement of Boudhanath is home to a large community of Tibetans. We transfer to our Kathmandu hotel to check-in and relax. We come together in the early evening for a presentation on contemporary issues in Nepal, given by a local expert. Afterwards, we enjoy tea with university students to learn more about higher education in Nepal.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Many original shrines and monuments in Durbar Square were damaged in the April 2015 earthquake, and repairs are still in progress. The area involves walking up to 2 miles on mostly paved surfaces, with some uneven sections and stairs. Participants wishing to experience a Mount Everest scenic flight should do so before breakfast this morning. This optional flight is not included in the program; refer to the Free Time section in your First Information Packet for details.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
This morning we explore one of the icons of Kathmandu. Swayambhunath, the oldest Buddhist stupa — a place of meditation — was established more than 2,500 years ago and is also known as the Monkey Temple. With our Group Leader, we explore the stupa and learn about Nepalese Buddhism. Perched high on a hilltop, Swayambhunath commands a superb view of the entire Kathmandu Valley. Swayambhunath is also known as Sengu and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We transfer by motorcoach to Kathmandu Hanuman Dhoka (Kathmandu Durbar Square). Here we explore many temples and monuments. With its old temples and palaces, Durbar Square epitomizes the religious and cultural life of the people. It is here that the kings of Nepal were crowned and their coronations solemnized. Among the sites we visit are Taleju Temple, built by King MahendraMalla in A.D. 1549; the Temple of KalBhairav, the God of Destruction; Nasal Chowk; the GaddiBaithak; the statue of King Pratap Mallal; and the Jagannath Temple.
Dinner:
At own arrangements. This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on our own to enjoy what we like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Walking up to 2 miles, mostly on paved paths with some uneven surfaces.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We transfer by motorcoach to Patan City, renowned for its marvelous monuments. Patan displays the sacred art of Nepal in an illustrious architectural setting. With our Group Leader, we explore Patan Square which is full of ancient palaces, temples and shrines noted for their exquisite carvings. We view Krishna Mandir, the only temple in Nepal having 21 spires and completely made of stone. We also visit Mahabouddha, a Buddhist temple made of clay bricks in which thousands of images of Lord Buddha are engraved. We also visit the Patan Museum. Here we can view exhibits that cover a long span of Nepal's cultural history, as well as the rare objects and cultural treasures for which Patan is famous.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We return to Kathmandu on our motorcoach. Free Time. Take this opportunity for independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. The Group Leader will be happy to offer other suggestions.
Dinner:
Farewell dinner with a complimentary "Farewell to Nepal" drink.
Evening:
At leisure. Say farewell to new Road Scholar friends. Pack and prepare for departure tomorrow.
Activity Note
Hotel check-out 11:00am. Refer to the program’s travel details regarding transfers.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Free Morning. Hotel check-out 11:00am. Program concludes. Those who have booked their airfare through Road Scholar transfer by motorcoach to the airport for flights home. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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